Supporting-frame for self-binding harvesters



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. PITKIN 86 J. F. STEWARD.

SUPPORTING FRAME FOR SELF BINDING HARVESTERS. No. 409,063. 7 LP'atfitteQJAug. 13, 1889..

N. PETERS. Phoo-Lilhogmplmr, Washinginn, n. c,

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I (No Model.)

J. H.'PITKIN & J. P. STEWARD.

SUPPORTING FRAME FOR SELF BINDING HARVESTERS. No al .063. Patented Aug.13, 1889.

ray;

9 PETERS, Phnw-Limom hu, Washlngiom n. c.

(No ModelQ) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. H. PITKIN 8: J. F. STEWARD. SUBPORTINGFRAME FOR SELF BINDING HARVESTERS. No. 409,063.

With/85,

I InVem a' n. PETERS. Pmtn-Uihograpber. w

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN PITKIN, OF LAKE VIEWV, AND JOHN F. STEWVARD, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS; SAID PITKIN ASSIGNOR ILLINOIS.

TO \VILLIAM. DEERING, OF CHICAGO,

SUPPORTING-FRAME FOR SELF-BINDING HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,063, dated August13, 1889.

Application filed April 12, 1888. Serial 110.270,?)03. (N model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JULIAN H. PITKIN and JOHN F. STEWARD, citizens ofthe United States, residing, respectively, at Lake View and at Chicago,both in the county of Cook and State of- Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Frames for Self-Binding Harvesters, ofwhich the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

The object of our invention is to reduce the weight and the cost of theframes of those harvesters which are used to carry and operate automaticgrain-loinding machines, and relates more particularly to those machinesin which the harvester is provided at the stubble. side with a singlesupporting and driving wheel, over which the cut grain is carried by alifting mechanism to the binder, located outside of the wheel. 'As thebinding mechanism may be in all its principal features of ordinaryconstruction, we have represented in the drawings only such portions asare necessary to an understanding of our invention. XVe prefer to usethe arrangement of gearing shown, described, and claimed in LettersPatcut to Kennedy, Kennedy & Steward, No. 351,268, dated October 19,1886, and we have therefore omitted from the drawings such portions ofthe same as are not directly associated with the matters claimed herein.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of ourimproved harvesterframe and certain portions of the binderframe whichare directly supported thereon, portions of the frames being brokenaway, as hereinafter described, to expose other parts to view. Fig. 2 isa rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a stubble-side elevation. Fig. 4is a sectional elevation on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing a portion ofthe frame-work. Figs. 5 and 5 are vertical sections 011 the lines 5 5and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. 1, showing the connection of thefinger-bar and the tongue supportor pivot. Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof one of the globular hearings in vertical section through its center.Fig. 7 is an outline view showing the rear elevation of a portion of thebinder-frame and its support. Fig. 8 is a view of one of the blanks fromwhich the main-frame clips are formed.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the main shoe and guide for theknife-head. 'Fig. is a perspective view of the harvester-frame and aportion of the binder-frame viewed from the rear stubble corner.

In a self-binding harvester of the type herein described it is necessarythat the space provided for the passage of the grain from the platformto the binder shall be of such width fore and aft as to allow the longgrain to flow thereto.

We construct the main-wheel frame of a width fore and aft onlysufficient to admit the main wheel therein, and we construct ourreceiving-platform of correspondingly narrow width, while the elevatingmechanism is 0011- structed of greater width, as usual. that the weightof the elevator-frame may be properly supported on the narrower main-Wheel frame, as it is sometimes called, we extend the fore-and-aft sillsof the wheelframe forward of the cutter-bar, as usual, to support thefront of the elevator and rearward beyond the rear sills of theplat-formto sills are connected by two truss-frames lying in a fore-and-aftdirection on opposite sides of the main-wheel space, as usual inmachinesof the present day.

The two trusses are substantially identical in construction, eachconsisting of a lower bar,

chord, or sill, and of an upper bar, which is arched or raised at themiddle. Thetruss on the grain side of the main wheel consists of thelower barb, of L form in cross-section, ap-

plied to the under side of the front and rear sills A and A and extendedforward and rearward beyond them, and of the upper bar B incliningdownward from its middle to its two ends, which are seated above thesills A and A the truss are united by intermediate clipplates 1), whichare passed partly around the In order 4 These front and rear sills 80The upper and lower members of I00 sills and riveted firmly to the upperand lower members of the truss, as plainly shown in the drawings.

The truss at the stubble side of the grainwheel consists, as-shown inFigs. 1, 2, and 3, of the bar or sill Z), applied below the sills andextended backward beyond the rear sill, and with the angular uppermemberB connected thereto and to the main sills by the clip-plates b inthe same manner as in the inner truss. Between the inner truss and thegrain-receiving platform we locate a barB,of angle-iron, extended in afore-and-aft direction over the upper surfaces of and forward andrearward beyond the platform-sills A and A as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and10.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the front and rear sills arefirmly connected by the three bars I)", Z), and B, and that the last twobars project a considerable distance in advance of the front sill and acorresponding distance behind the rear sill.

The main-wheel frame comprises as its essential elements the two trussesand the sills A A. The essential members of the platform-frame are thebars l3 3' and sills A A The lower end of the bar Z) extends beyond thewheel-frame proper.

The elevator-frame is sustained, preferably, by two bent angle-irons (land (J, of the torn shown in Figs. 1., 2, 3, and 10, located one at thefront and the other at the rear, each iron consisting of a horizontalportion resting upon and bolted to the extended ends of the bars Z) andB, an upright portion rising therefrom at the stubble side, and an upperhorizontal portion turned grainward to receive and sustain theseat-plank D.

The elevator consists of horizontal rolls sustaining the upper and lowerends of endless carrier-aprons, as usual. \Ve construct the side piecesC and C of the elevatorframe of sheet metal, bolting or riveting them tothe supporting-arms C and G, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the arms servingas their sole supports. The two sheet-metal pieces are given therequisite stiffness by means of woodcn bars c applied to their innerfaces to support the journals of the elevator-rolls and the edges of theaprons, as in ordinary elevators. It will be observed that the front andrear sides of the elevator-frame are lo cated one in advance of thecutter-bar, the other behind the rear sill A A of the mainwheel andplatform frames, which frames have in a fore-a-nd-aft direction a widthmuch less than that of the elevator.

In order to support the wheel-frame adjustably upon the main wheel 13,segmental. rack-plates E and E are bolted to the inner sides of therespective trusses to receive pinions on the main-wheel axle, which willbe provided with means for .turningand lockin it, as usual in this classof machines.

The grain-bimler, which we prefer to construct of the ordinaryDeering-Appleby type,

must be supported in the machine at the stubble side of the main wheel,so thatit may be adjusted forward and backward, as usual, to secure theapplication of the band at the middle of the grain whether the latter belong or short. In order to afford proper support for the binder,which isconstructed with a tubular base arm or support E", lying in afore-and-aft direction, we provide the segment-plate E at the stubbleside of the wheel with an arm or projection E rising from its upper endand forked or crotehed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to receive the baserod or arm E of the binder, which is kept in place therein by atransverse pin e". As an additional support for the binder, we boltrigidly to the lower member b of the stubble-truss an upright post E,the upper end of which is held by the brace 6 as shown in Fig. 3,thisbrace being formed by an upward and rearward continuation of theupper member 15" of the truss. To the upper end of the post E we secureby a yoke-bolt, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the box or bearing E, havinexternally a globular form, so that it may rock or tip to a limitedextent in relation to its support. Through this globular box and throughthe tubular base-arm E of the binder we pass the horizontal shaft Eprovided at its forward end with cranks to carry the packers, as in theordinary Appleby grain-binders. The shaft thus applied serves not onlyto drive the packers, as usual, but also as a partial support for thebinder-frame, which is free to slide longitudinally thereon.

To prevent the parts from sagging or springing out of position the shaftis ma 1c of greater diameter than usual. At the rearend the shaft isgrooved, and passed through and connected loosely by a groove thereinand a longitudinal spline to a sprocket-wheel from which it receivesmotion, thehub of the wheel being provided, as shown in Fig. 3, with anannular flangef, which is seated in the upper part of a stationaryoil-cup e, in the form of a flange, on the rear end of the bearing E,this arrangement serving not only to apply oil. to the shaft, but alsoto hold the wheel from moving sidewise as the shaft slides therethroughin adjusting the binder. As a further support for the binder when turnedoutward to its operative position, as in Fig. 7, we provide a bar G andbolt one of its ends to the rear upturned end Z) of the member B of theinner truss. From this point the bar is extended upward and stubblewardbeyond the stubble side of the frame, and provided at its inner elevatedend with apulley G on which the customary arm G" of the binder-framerests when in operative position. The bar G is sustained by two braces Gand G, the former extendingdownward to the rear end of the truss memberll, and the latter extending rearward to the upturned end or brace Z)".The precise arrangementof these supporting-braces is not material, and

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may be modified within reasonable limits provided they give propersupport to the bar G.

. It will be observed that the binder receives support at three points:on the inner side from the arm E the rear end of the packershaft, and011 the outer side from the pulley G These supports permit thebinderframe to be adjusted bodily forward and backward. They also permitthe frame to be turned or folded inward toward the harvester around thepacker-shaft 'as an axis. The folding of the binder upon thepacker-shaft as an axis is not in itself claimed as a feature of thepresent invention.

H represents the usual crank-shaft of the harvester, extending in afore-and-aft direction across the stubble side of the frame, provided atits forward end with the usual crankwheel, and provided at the rear endwith the usual driving-pinion and a sprocket-wheel for communicatingmotion to the other parts of the harvester in the customary manner. Inorder to permit this shaft to be located in the position shown and tosecure certain bracing effects, we have adopted certain peculiarities inthe construction of the truss at the stubble side. The rear end of theshaft passes through the tubular portion A of the rear sill and throughthe clip If at the rear end of the truss. From this point the shaftrises slightly toward the front of the machine, where it is passedthroughand sustained by a box or hearing on top of the front sill A thisarrangement throwing the crank-wheel farther from the ground than usual.The lower member or chord b of the truss is in the same vertical planeas the shaft; but the upper member B of the truss is deflected grainwardtoward the forward end, so as to pass one side of the shaft. In order topermit this deflection the clip If, which unites the upper and lowermembers of the truss at the forward end, is made from a blank in theform shown in Fig. 8. When this blank is doubled or bent, its upper andlower ends are thrown out of line or stand obliquely to each otherinsuitable positions to be riveted or bolted to thedivergent members ofthe truss.

The tongue of the machine J is connected to the frame by a horizontalpivot-bolt I, the ends of which are in turn encircled and sustained bymetal straps U and Z),boltecl,1'espectively, to the forward end of bar Band the forward end of the lower member or chord Z) of the inner truss,as hereinafter explained in detail. In order to secure a greater breadthof tongue-bracing, or, in otherv words, to permit the use of a longpivot or attachment for the tongue, the inn er trussthat is to say, thetruss on the grain side of the main wheelis deflected toward the stubbleside as it approaches the front of the frame. This arrangement, which isplainly shown in Fig. 1, affords sufficient space between it and theouter truss for the admission of the main wheel, but materiallyincreases the distance between its forward end and the bar 13.

It will be perceived that the pivot of the tongue is located aconsiderable distance in advance of the forward sill A so that when themachine is tilted forward the connections are subjected to greatleverage and severe strain. \Ve therefore strengthen the parts, as shownin Figs. 5 and 5. The front sill A which serves as the finger-bar, is ofan L form in cross-section, with one flange extending downward. Itterminates at the sill member I). A Wrought-iron strap Z) is bolted tothe under side of the member I), carried thence around the tongue-pivotI and rearward beneath the depending flange of the finger-bar, andthence upward to the under side of the bar I), to which it is bolted atb thus forming, as shown, a truss to strengthen the forward extension ofthe bar 6. The grain end of the tongue-pivot I, is encircled, as shownin Figs. 4 and 5, by a strap 71*, applied to the horizontal flange ofthe bar B, and carried thence around the pivot and rearward under thebar to the depending flange of the finger-bar, to which it is bolted, asshown at U.

The inner or main shoe of the finger-bar is constructed in the mannerrepresented more particularly in Figs. 1. and 9. It consists, mainly, ofa sheetmetal plate having its forward edge turned upward and thenhorizontally, as shown at c, and its rear edge depressed and carriedhorizontally rearward beneath thehorizontal flange of the linger-bar, asshown in Figs. 5 and 9, secured by rivets c, The end of the knife orsickle bar slides on this plate as a support, and is kept down to itsplace by two overlying plates 0 and 0 which are riveted, respectively,to the horizontal flange of the finger-bar and to the horizontal topportion of the upturned edge e of the shoe. This light and simple shoeis found to answer all the purposes of the heavy castmetal shoesformerly employed. A strapbolt O passing through the forward end of thetruss member I), is riveted or otherwise attached to the metal bar 0 andserves to hold the same firmly in place, this bar serving, as beforeexplained, to sustain the forward end of the elevator-frame.

Heretofore binders have been usually supported upon the outer or stubblesill of the harvester-frame, and with a result that the parts aretwisted or tipped out of position unless the binders were connected tothe elevator-frame, commonly known as the A frame. This attachment inturn rendered the construction of the A-frame obj ectionally heavy andrendered it necessary to strongly brace their upper ends. Under ourconstruction thebinder is entirely disconnected from the elevator-frame,which latter may consequently be made much lighter than heretofore andsupported at its lower end alone.

The tipping of the outward sill outward under the weight of the binderis in our machine largely prevented by the arm or strut G, which lies insuch position that the weight of the binder acts upon the truss only ina downward direction. The bar or arm G also serves to prevent the trussfrom tipping stubbleward.

In the drawings it will be observed that the bars 13 and B lie above thefinger-bar with distance-pieces d between them. These distance-piecesare not essential, and may be omitted.

\Vh'at we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. Theharvestermain-wheel frame having the axle-guiding plate E providedwith the top arm E and the standard E, erected on the rear stubblecorner and provided with a box or bearing at the top in line with arm Eand forming the inner bearing of the binder, whereby the frame isadapted to sustain a rocking or folding binder.

2. In a harvester and binder, the mainwheel frame having theaxle-guiding plate 11 with the top arm E, the standard E, erected on therear stubble corner and provided with a top box or bearing for thepacker-shaft, in line with arm E and forming the inner bearing of thebinder, and the rigid arm G, projecting stubbleward beyond the remainderof the frame in position to sustain the outer side of the binder.

$3. In a harvester main-wheel frame, the lower truss member Z1 and thestandard E, secured to its rear end, in combination with the upper trussmember 13", having its rear end bent upward and secured to the standard,substantially as shown.

4. A harvester main-wheel frame having thereon on the stubble side arigid arm E and a standard E, with a box or bearing E at its top, incombination with a grain-binding machine having the long tubular basearmsuited to turn and slide in the arm E and the packer-shaft mounted insaid basearm and extended beyond the same to slide through bearing 1",whereby the binder is permitted to rock inward and outward on theharvester, and also permitted to slide fore and aft thereon.

5. The binder-frame having the tubular base-arms E and G to sustain thepackershaft and needle-shaft, respectively, in combination with theharvester main-whcel frame having the binder-frame mounted thereon toturn about the axis of the packershaft as a center, said main-wheelframe provided with the rigid outreaching arm G, adapted to rest beneaththe arm G, whereby the binder is given direct support at its outer sidewhen in operative position.

(3. In combination with the binder-frame having the long horizontalbase-arm E" inelosing the packer-shaft, the harvester mainwheel frameprovided with a rigid arm or standard wherein the arm E" is mounted toturn and to slide endwise.

'7. The binderframe provided with the rigid tubular horizontal base-armE", encircling the packer-shaft, whereby said arm is adapted to sustainthe packer-shaft and also to serve as a partial support fora sliding andturning binder.

8. In. a grain-elevating harvester, a main frame to carry the main wheeland platform, provided with fore-and-aft bars B and l), extendedtooverhang at. the front and rear, in combination with the angular barsor frames C C, mounted on the overhanging ends of the bars B and I), andthe elevator side boards or frames C and C", secured to the bars C C,substantially as described and shown.

9. In a mainwheel frame for a harvester and binder, the combination ofits rear sill A, the bar 11 located at the stubble side, at taehed tothe sill, and extended rearward beyond the same, and a binder-supportingstandard E, rigidly attached to the rear end of said bar b whereby thebinder is given support in rear of the sill.

10. The truss for a harvester main-wheel framc,-eonsisting of a lowerbar or member I) and an upper member U, connected at its ends thereto,the upper member being arranged at one end directly over the lowermember, but deflected at the opposite end to one side of the lowermember.

11. In a harvester main-wheel frame provided with the front support Iffor one end of the tongue-pivot, the truss at the grain side of the mainwheel, extended at the front to sustain the support U of thetongue-pivot,.

said truss deflected stubbleward as it approaches the front of theframe, whereby the supports for the tongue-pivot are widely separatedwithout impairing the strength of the frame or interfering with thewheel.

12. In a harvester-frame, the forwardly-extending bar I) and thetransverse sill or finger-bar A in combination with the metal strap Z)",secured to the under side of thebar and bent, as shown, to form asupport for the tO11ft10I)lVOl'/, and passed beneath the sill,

substantially as described and shown, and se-

